Do Aliens Use Money?

I think they would have some form of exchange. It might not be physical currency in the sense we think of it. I doubt it would be based on physical commodities we would consider - such as "precious" metals (gold, silver, etc.).

Perhaps it's some form of credit system, based on hours (or some equivelant unit of time) of labor/work/effort.

If we consider that there might be multiple alien societies, then a method of exchange between them may be required - in addition to being used for exchanging goods and services within an individual alien society.

Of course, on a larger scale, there might be more "precious" commodities that we are not aware of. Something like the alleged "Element-115" that Lazar postulated might be the "big-oil" of the Galaxy - with wars being fought over access to it, etc.


[edit on 2010-6-7 by EnhancedInterrogator]

reply to post by 30_seconds


Im positive they have money. Ill use this as an example the Japanese mutilate sharks to get there fins they get huge money for tiger organs etc. Well obviously the aliens do the same thing they travel light years to steal cows organs. Obviously this must have a monetary value.Why else would they travel thousands of light years to mutilate cattle?

highly advanced technology also means advancement in other areas, spiritually etc. they have no need for money, if they do they handle it very well.

After all money is the root of all evil.

I'm sure they do! Everyone of them got a bad ass ride. Why? Listen I was already think'in of hittin em up over the weekend, so don't even get any ideas.

[edit on 8-6-2010 by randyvs]

reply to post by LordBucket


I think you "are on the money" here Lordbucket. Excuse the pun!!!!

There are many human societies where money is not even a concept. Indigenous societies on all contintents have displayed this pheonomenon.

Even in Africa, South America and New Guinea TODAY, there are indigenous communities that do not have any concept of currency.

To take the idea even further if higher intelligences have money (which like you said is based on scarcity of resources) then that would mean they have inflation due to this scarcity.

I would be quite curious to see how aliens handle inflation!!!

if they do i very much doubt it is anything like our monetary system. If they did you a system like ours then I doubt they would've got very far in to the universe because of the inherent control associated with it.

I wonder what the intergalactic currency is.

Originally posted by -Blackout-
I wonder what the intergalactic currency is.

Bottlecaps?

I really think it depends on what stage the aliens are in. I mean, we got our own science fiction to compare with.

In Star Trek, there is no money. Why? No, its not because of the philosophical values of mankind. I think its about free energy and object materialization. It becomes a circle of not needing money. If we can get anything we want, we dont need to work. Even if we dont need to work, we can still work, but we dont have to pay for anything... And thus there is no need to charge for anything. The monetary value of what you do is gone, there is only life.

Well, either something like that or the aliens have perfected Communism.

Originally posted by igor_ats
highly advanced technology also means advancement in other areas, spiritually etc.

I disagree with that statement. Western European's had more advanced technology when they arrived in the "new world" than the native inhabitants. But, as to the being more "spiritually" advanced ... I think that's open to debate.

[edit on 2010-6-14 by EnhancedInterrogator]

[edit on 2010-6-14 by EnhancedInterrogator]

Originally posted by -Blackout-
I wonder what the intergalactic currency is.

My bets are:

1. Element-115 (or some similar resource)
   
2. Sexual "favors".
   
3. Slaves (human or otherwise)
   

Not a very up-beat list. Just going by human history as a model (what other one do we have to go by?).


[edit on 2010-6-14 by EnhancedInterrogator]

I think the "aliens" we are talking about in this thread would operate more like ants or bees do. It is a collective effort to maintain the "mound or hive" as it were with ants and bees. These aliens would not need currency, just everyone working toward the collective good of their species OR they might use something like Chuck E. Cheese tokens? Who knows!!!!!!!

They have credit cards

You gotta be kidding me...
We are about to enter world war 3 and this is what we are talking about?
Seriously?

I would think the only way an advanced civilization could exist without money is if it was so advanced that it had completely abolished scarcity.

Money evolves naturally from barter systems as individual actors come up with better and better ways to streamline their barter transactions. Barter systems are a natural product of scarcity.

The question that would answer the OP is: do aliens have to deal with scarcity?

reply to post by 30_seconds


Only while they are visiting/living on Earth.
It comes in handy at times.

[edit on 14-6-2010 by manta78]

I was told by an old man once, that the money system was implemented by the draco reptillians to create a slave cast control system. but thats just some old man talking...

I personally think that any advanced space fairing scociety would be resource based.They could still give their slaves tokens tho.. but how would you trade between alien systems? Again, probaby resource based. Or do you believe in "space cash"

ciao, RDDS

They both do and don't use money. The basics of living life, shelter, energy, communications, food, clothing, etc. is provided at no cost to all members of society. They is also an incentive system in place which is the same as money for items deemed luxuries or those items where demand exceeds supply. If earth would adopt such a model then we too could have the good life the aliens enjoy.

reply to post by 30_seconds


I think it would depend on how their civilization developed. Does their society believe in personal ownership or does it believe no one owns anything? Answer that and you'll answer your own question, as the former implies some kind of monetary system exists whereas the latter does not.

reply to post by NWOWILLFALL


Yeah, because the Alien and UFO discussion forum has everything to do with a World War 3, clearly.

Thats like going to a Football forum and saying "Are you kidding me, the Baseball world series is on and you guys are discussing football?!"

reply to post by -Blackout-
Ahhh not this dude again..



Aliens